Jharkhand Board Class 10 English Notes | The Hack Driver Solutions Chapter 8
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Which places did the narrator and the hack driver visit
to find Lutkins? Why could they not find Lutkins?
Ans. The hack driver took the narrator to many places. First of
all, they went to Fritz's shop. The hack driver thought that Lutkins
had gone there to play poker. Then they went to Gustaff's barber
shop. Fritz had told them that Lutkins had probably gone to the
shop for a shave. But he could not be found there. Then they went
to Gray's barber shop. There they learnt that Lutkins had left for the
poolroom. But they learnt there that he had also gone from there. A
friend of Lutkins told them that he had gone to his mother's farm.
They searched Lutkins there but did not find him. Actually, the
hack driver was Lutkins himself. He had been befooling the narrator.
Q. 2. Describe the narrator's visit to the farm of Lutkins'
mother.
Or, What happened when the narrator went to Lutkins'
mother?
Ans. The narrator and the hack driver had been searching for
Lutkins. They learnt that he had gone to his mothers' farm. So they
went to Lutkins' mother at her farm house. There they asked about
Lutkins. But she said that she did not know anything about him.
The hack driver told her that they had a legal right to search all
properties for Lutkins. She heard it and went inside the kitchen. She
caught hold of an iron from the stove. She then marched on them
shouting. The two stepped back from fear The hack driver told the
narrator to go from there as she would kill them. They, however,
searched the place. But they did not find Lutkins. How could they?
Lutkins himself was with the narrator as Bill, the hack driver!
Q. 3. Give a character-sketch of Lutkins.
Ans. Lutkins is a wise, clever and crafty man. He needs no
certificate of his qualities when summons is meant for him. And he
proves himself capable of this summons. Clearly, he has done
something wrong or illegal. And he doesn't mend himself. He again
deceives the narrator. He poses before him as Bill or Magnuson
and befools him. So he is really a genius in evil. He plays his part
intelligently. The narrator doesn't doubt an inch of it.
He also wisely earns dollars for his acting. He convinces the
narrator that he himself has to take some money from Lutkins. Side
by side, he goes on telling that Lutkins was seen at these places a
few minutes ago. Finally, he takes the narrator to his own house. He
takes him face to face with his mother. This all has a very good
impression on the narrator. He wants to practise law in New Mullion
But this all is done humorously. Lutkins proves to be a good man
also. He offers the narrator a cup of coffee in the end.
Q. 4. Appearances are deceptive. Discuss.
Ans. No one can know what is inside a man. In newspapers
we read almost daily how innocent-looking persons become devils
and take advantage of the helpless victims. It may also happen
that a villainous-looking person can be a saint. Daily in trains
strangers offer sweets to the passengers after coming near them.
And when chances come, they loot their belongings. The hack
driver is simple-looking. But see how he befools the narrator with
ease! We can call him a devil who doesnt' hesitate to cheat the
innocent persons. So in that way, we can say that appearances are
deceptive.
Q. 5. Why did the narrator decide to practise law in New
Mullion? What happened to this plan in his second visit?
Or, Why was the narrator sent to New Mullion? What is
impression did he get about it?
Ans. The narrator joined a law firm as a junior assistant clerk.
He was sent to New Mullion to serve summons on Oliver Litkins.
New Mullion was a town in the countryside. The narrator found
the town dirty. But he was greatly helped by a man to search
Lutkins. In his first visit he did not get Lutkins. But he found the
people very helpful. So he pictured that he would practise law
there. He would get an honest and happy life there.
However, the man who had hired his hack to the narrator was
Lutkins himself. So Lutkins himself had deceived the narrator.
Obviously, the people there were not as the narrator had thought
them to be earlier.
Q. 6. Where did the man take the narrator in his first visit to
New Mullion? Did he find Lutkins? Why Why not?
Or, How did Lutkins himself the narrator?
Or, Describe how the narrator was befooled by Lutkins
himself.
Ans. The narrator joined a famous law firm as a junior assistant
clerk. He was sent to New Mullion to serve summons on Lutkins.
He was happy to go there as New Mullion was a town. It was
happy to go there as New Mullion was a town. It was forty miles
away. The narrator found New Mullion dirty. But he met an
interesting man at the station. He was Lutkins himself. He posed
before him as Bill or Magnusan. He offered his hack to him on hire.
Then Bill took the narrator to places like Fritz's, Guastaff's barber
shop and his own house. But how could the narrator find Lutkins
when Lutkins himself was with him all the times?
Q. 7. Why was the narrator sent to New Mullion again and
what happened thereafter?
Ans. The young narrator couldn't find Lutkins. Next morning
the case was coming up for hearing in the court. He was ordered to
go at once to New Mullion again. But this time a man was sent with
him. This man had worked with Lutkins and he would recognise
him. The narrator saw Bill at the station when they dropped at it.
The narrator at once recognised Bill. He was talking with his mother
and laughing. The narrator told that it was Bill who had helped him
greatly in finding Lutkins. The man told him that he himself was
Lutkins. Lutkins offered a cup of coffee to the narrator and the
man.
Q.8. Why did the narrator rejoice when he was sent to New
Mullion? Why was he sent there?
Ans. The narrator was a fresh law graduate. So he joined a big
law firm as a junior assistant clerk. He was sent to serve summons
like a cheap private detective on various persons. For this work he
had to go to dark and dirty comers of the city to seek the persons.
A case was coming up in the court. Lutkins' presence was urgently
needed in the court. So the narrator was sent to New Mullion to
serve summons on Lutkins. The narrator hated going to dirty places
in the city for serving summons. But when he was sent to New
Mullion, he was happy. It was because it was different from city
work. In city he could be beaten. So he hated this unpleasant work
in the city. But he liked this very work in New Mullion.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Who was the hack driver? How was he recognised? What
really hurt the narrator's feelings?
Ans. The hack driver was not Bill or Magnuson but Lutkins
himself. The lawyer was befooled by him. He was sent again to
locate Lutkins. Another person who had worked with Lutkins
accompanied him. It was he who had recognised him. Lutkins and
his mother laughed at him as though he were a boy of seven. This
really hurt the narrator's feelings.
Q. 2. What job did the narrator get after graduation? Did he
like his work?
Ans. The narrator got the job of a junior assistant clerk in a law
firm after graduation. He was assigned the work of serving
summons. He had to seek out his victims in the dirty and shadowy
corners of the city. Sometimes, he was given a beating. Therefore, he
did not like that unpleasant work.
Q.3. Why was he happy to go to New Mullion? Why did he go
there?
Ans. The narrator was happy to go to New Mullion. He thought
that New Mullion must be a beautiful and calm village.
He had gone there (to New Mullions) to serve summons on a
man named Oliver Lutkins.
Q. 4. Why did the lawyer find the sight at the station
"agreeable" ?
Ans. The delivery man at the station was the only agreeable
sight at the station. He left a deep impression on the narrator's mind.
He was quite open and friendly. The narrator glowed with the
warmth of his affection. His earnestness, simplicity and cheerful
country wisdom refreshed the young lawyer.
Q. 5. How did the hack driver sketch the character of
Lutkins?
Ans. The hack driver called Lutkins as a good for nothing
fellow. He had a craze for playing poker. He owed to many. However,
he never parted with his money. He was skilled in the art of dupping
others. He was known for his dishonesty.
Q.6. What did the hack driver tell the narrator about Lutkins'
mother? [JAC 2004 S]
Ans. The hack driver told the narrator that Lutkins' mother was
a real terror. She was about nine feet tall and four feet thick and quick
as a cat.
Q. 7. How did Lutkins' mother receive the narrator?
Ans. Bill told Lutkins' mother that the young lawyer represented
the court in the city. He had a legal right to search all properties for
that Lutkins. The lady went into the kitchen. She attacked them with
a hot iron rod.
Q.8. What does the narrator describe as a pretty disrespectful
treatment" ?
Ans. The old lady came out with an iron rod. She gave them a
threat that she would burn them. They got frightened and made a
retreat. She shouted and laughed. The narrator described it as a
pretty disrespectful treatment.
Q. 9. Select the appropriate traits that describe the hack
driver.
Ans. The hack driver was a fine talker. He was most affectionate
and friendly with the narrator. He befools and dupes the narrator.
He is frank and free. He develops a sort of liking for him. He robs him
of money by charging him at the rate of two dollars an hour. He also
charged money for the narrator's lunch. He was a trickster.
Q. 10. With what impression did the lawyer come back to the
city ?
Ans. The narrator was fully satisfied with his visit to New
Mullion. He was deeply impressed by the town and decided to settle
there and practise law. He was so much excited with Bill's behaviour
that he almost forgot his failure to find Lutkins.
Q. 11. Why did the narrator say "I hated this unpleasant
work" ?
Ans. The narrator joined a law firm as a junior assistant clerk
after graduating with honours in law. But he was given the job of
serving summons. For that he had to go to the dark and dirty lanes
of the city. He was sometimes beaten for serving summons. So he
hated this job.
Q. 12. Why was the narrator (lowyer) sent to New Mullion by
his law firm ?
Ans. The narrator was sent to New Mullion to serve summons
on Oliver Lutkins. A case was coming up in the court. In it the
presence of Lutkins was urgently required.
Q. 13. How did the narrator find the streets and shops of New
Mullion ?
Ans. The narrator hoped to see a sweet and simple country
village when he got down at New Mullion. But he was sad to see
its muddy streets. It had rows of wooden shops. These had been
painted in a sour brown colour.
Q. 14. What opinion did the narrator form about the hack
driver?
Ans. The narrator found the hack driver co-operative, kind and
very helpful. Since he was the most agreeable person, he bargained
with him for hiring his hack at two dollars an hour. The broad smile
of the hack driver made him feel that they had been very old good
friends.
Q. 15. What happened at Gustaff's barber shop when the
narrator and the hack driver went there?
Ans. The hack driver asked Gustaff on the narrator's behalf if
they had seen Lutkins. Gustaff told them that he did not care to see
him. He askedhem to collect thirty-five dollars from Lutkins if they
saw him. Lutkins owned this money to him.
Q. 16. How did the narrator get his lunch? How did the hack
driver help him in it ?
Ans. The hack driver told the narrator that restaurants in new
Mullion were in a bad shape. He suggested (to) the narrator that his
wife would pack lunch for half a dollar. They would then eat this
lunch at Wade's Hill. The narrator did as he was told by the hack
driver.
Q. 17. Why did the narrator say, "Really, I considered
returning to new Mullion to practice law" ?
Ans. The narrator was greatly impressed by "so deep and richly
human" behaviour, help and assistance of the hack driver. He found
him so soft-spoken and simple. So he thought to return to New
Mullion to practise law.
Q. 18. How did the people at the law firm receive him?
Ans. The people at the Law Firm were upset at the lawyer's
failure to serve summons on Lutkins. They behaved badly. Due to
it he was made to feel ashamed of himself and to be a useless fool.
Q. 19. Why was he sent back to New Mullion? Who went with
him?
Ans. He was sent back to new Mullion to serve summons on
Lutkins. But this time there was another man with him. He would
identify Lutkins as he had worked with him.
Q. 20. Why do you think were the neighbours anxious to meet
the lawyer?
Ans. The neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer. A lawyer
is supposed to be intelligent, clever and hard to be deceived. But
Lutkins had deceived him. So everyone wanted to see such a
specimen.
Q. 21. How did Lutkins make a fool of the narrator even in the
end?
Ans. The narrator felt hurt in his feelings when he came to know
that the hack driver was Lutkins himself. Then Lutkins offered a cup
of coffee to the narrator and the man in a neighbour's house. He
wanted them to see the narrator.
Q. 22. Who befriends him? Where does he take him?
Ans. A delivery man (Oliver Lutkins himself) befriends him. He
takes him to the Fritz's, Gustaff's barber shop, Wade's Hill and finally
Lutkins' house.
Q. 23. What does he say about Lutkins?
Ans. He says that Lutkins never pays anybody a cent. He is not
really bad. But it is hard to make him part with his money.
Q. 24. What more does Bill say about Lutkins and his family?
Ans. Bill says that Lutkins has a mother. They have a farm three
miles north. But her mother is a real terror. She is about nine feet tall
and four feet thick. She is as quick as a cat.
Q.25. Does the narrator serve the summons that day?
Ans. The narrator does not serve the summons that day. He
s again to New Mullion. He serves it on Lutkins when he is
recognised by another official. This official is with him.
Q.26. Who was Lutkins?
Ans. Lutkins is a cheat. He borrows money from different
persons. But he never returns that money. He has a cheerful and
friendly manner. He is a hack driver is New Mullion.
Q. 27. Who is a 'con man', or a confidence trickster?
Ans. A con man' is a trickster. He is a master at deceiving people
like the young lawyer given in the chapter.
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